Extensions to IPv6 neighbor discovery protocol for automated prefix delegation
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorsRalph Edward Droms, Anthony Lee Hain
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a method comprises detecting, by a router, a first router advertisement message from an attachment router that provides an attachment link used by the router, the first router advertisement message specifying a first IPv6 address prefix owned by the attachment router and usable for address autoconfiguration on the attachment link. The router detects an unsolicited delegated IPv6 address prefix from the attachment router and that is available for use by the router. The router claims a second IPv6 address prefix from at least a portion of the delegated IPv6 address prefix, for use on at least one ingress link of the router.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- detecting, by a router, an unsolicited first router advertisement message from an attachment router that provides an attachment link used by the router and at least a second router, the first router advertisement message specifying a first IPv6 address prefix owned by the attachment router and usable for address autoconfiguration on the attachment link;
- detecting, by the router, an unsolicited delegated IPv6 address prefix from the attachment router and that is available for use by the router and the second router;
- and
- the router outputting a notification for the second router of a second IPv6 address prefix claimed by the router from at least a portion of the delegated IPv6 address prefix, the second IPv6 address prefix for use on at least one ingress link of the router.
An apparatus comprising:
- a network interface circuit configured for connecting to an attachment link and receiving an unsolicited first router advertisement message from an attachment router that provides the attachment link for the apparatus and at least a second router, the first router advertisement message specifying a first IPv6 address prefix owned by the attachment router and usable for address autoconfiguration on the attachment link, the network interface circuit further configured for providing at least one ingress link for attached network nodes;
- and
- a routing circuit configured for detecting an unsolicited delegated IPv6 address prefix received by the network interface circuit from the attachment router and that is available for use by the routing circuit, the routing circuit configured for outputting a notification for the second router of a second IPv6 address prefix claimed by the apparatus from at least a portion of the delegated IPv6 address prefix, for use on the at least one ingress link, the routing circuit including integrated circuitry.
An apparatus comprising:
- means for connecting to an attachment link and receiving an unsolicited first router advertisement message from an attachment router that provides the attachment link for the apparatus and at least a second router, the first router advertisement message specifying a first IPv6 address prefix owned by the attachment router and usable for address autoconfiguration on the attachment link, the means for connecting further configured for providing at least one ingress link for attached network nodes;
- and
- means for detecting an unsolicited delegated IPv6 address prefix received by the means for connecting from the attachment router and that is available for use by the apparatus, the means for detecting configured for outputting a notification for the second router of a second IPv6 address prefix claimed by the apparatus from at least a portion of the delegated IPv6 address prefix, for use on the at least one ingress link.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.